There is a misguided perception of dental procedures, especially when it comes to root canal treatment. You may think this procedure is painful or scary which makes you anxious. However, this is not true. If you are scheduled for a root canal procedure, an experienced dentist will help ease your anxiety and keep you comfortable.
Root canal therapy in Richmond, IN is performed by highly qualified and skilled dental professionals using modern technology and utmost patient compliance to provide the quality care you deserve.
An introduction to root canal therapy
Root canal treatment is a common dental procedure that helps alleviate painful symptoms caused by an infected, inflamed, or abscessed tooth pulp ( the innermost part of your tooth, containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. It helps in tooth development by providing nutrition). During this procedure, your dentist removes the inflamed pulp and cleans the root canals (hollow chambers that consist of the pulp tissue). The canals are disinfected and packed with a biocompatible filling material that seals the space and protects it, preventing further damage.
Warning symptoms that indicate the need for a root canal treatment
You may experience any one of the alarming symptoms that increase your necessity for a root canal treatment. These include:
- Chronic tooth pain that may radiate to your jaw, face, and other teeth
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures that may linger for more than a few seconds
- Extreme infection with a pus-discharging abscess followed by tender, swollen, and bleeding gums
- A chipped or cracked tooth with increased plaque accumulation and bacterial invasion into the tooth pulp
- Tooth discoloration due to prolonged pulpal infection
- Extreme tooth pain while biting or chewing
- Tooth mobility
The procedure involved
Initial consultation
- During the first visit, your dentist will evaluate the affected tooth through dental X-rays to assess the extent of the infection and study the root morphology.
Procedure
- Your dentist will administer local anesthesia (a numbing agent) to ease pain and discomfort.
- A rubber dam will be used to isolate the affected tooth for moisture control.
- A small opening will be made in the crown to access the pulp (access opening).
- Tiny dental instruments will be used to extract the inflamed pulp from the root canal
- The pulp chamber and root canals will be cleaned and prepared using rotary files (mechanical preparation).
- The canals will then be disinfected, and shaped.
- The empty canals will then be filled with a flexible dental material called gutta-percha
- A temporary filling will be placed to seal the tooth
- Once your tooth heals, your dentist will provide a permanent crown.
Root canal treatment is an excellent alternative to extraction that helps preserve your tooth structure restoring your oral form, function, and aesthetics.
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